out of the corner

Imagine a race of alien explorers who pass our planet, who simply drive by: as anyone might pass the local library, without even taking the foot off the gas or turning to glance; as a New Yorker crosses Times Square, heedless; as a political staffer might pass the monumental core of Washington, seeing nothing and concentrating on his groceries; as a museum goer passes a masterwork, having already seen too many paintings.